Gomez appears to be back on track

MILWAUKEE -- While injuries continue to be a problem for the Brewers, at least one player who spent time on the disabled list might finally be on his way to full health.

Carlos Gomez, who batted from the leadoff spot for the second time this season on Saturday, is riding his first three-game hit streak since coming off the 15-day DL on May 20. On Wednesday against the Dodgers, Gomez notched his first four-hit game of the year, and is 6-for-9 in his last three appearances. Prior to that, he was 3-for-19 (.158) since injuring his left hamstring on May 4.

Manager Ron Roenicke said it's nice to see Gomez, who was batting over .300 for the first month of the season, get back to where he was to start the year. And with Gomez making just his fifth start since coming back on Saturday, Roenicke said he expects him to see more playing time soon.

"Before he got hurt, I thought he was really good [at the plate]," Roenicke said of Gomez. "When he first came back, he was lost. I was surprised how much difference there was. Now what I see is what he was doing before, and I think when he's 100 percent, I'll try to get him out there more often."

Braun out with Achilles, hip issues

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was out of the lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Pirates with a tight right Achilles and a right hip strain, and manager Ron Roenicke said it's possible he could miss Sunday's series finale as well.

Roenicke indicated that it's time to solve the lingering leg issues that have dogged the Brewers' star player.

"We just need to figure it out where everybody's on the same page, and we can get him where he's 100 percent," Roenicke said. "And then we don't have to worry about any of this."

In the sixth inning of Friday's loss to Pittsburgh, Braun stole second and came up limping after an awkward slide. He remained in the game to run the bases, but was replaced in left field for the top of the eighth.

Bothered by the Achilles since May 1, when he injured it stealing his 100th career base, Braun reaggravated it sliding into second base on Wednesday in Los Angeles. He said he slid differently to avoid another flare up on Friday. Unfortunately, that led to the hip strain.

Roenicke said he's starting to see a theme, and hinted it might be time for Braun to stop putting himself in harm's way on the basepaths.

"We've had a lot of discussions about it," Roenicke said.

Can Roenicke put a red light on one of his players?

"Yeah, I can."

Has he?

"On occasion, I have."

Braun has 11 stolen bases on the year, but Roenicke seemed more intent on keeping his bat in the lineup. However, Braun -- who's hitting .310 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs -- said it's a challenge for him to hold back.

"It's difficult to restrain myself from running, sliding, diving," Braun said. "When you're out there, you compete and adrenaline takes over, and it's not easy to play at 80 percent."

Morgan happy to finally have his first RBI of '12

MILWAUKEE -- Nyjer Morgan didn't know he'd set a dubious Major League record by beginning the season with 138 plate appearances and zero RBIs. When informed, he actually took it pretty well.

"Every day, you've got a new chance to make history, so it's all good," Morgan said, breaking into a laugh.

He could laugh because the second-year Brewers outfielder has been swinging the bat much better of late. Morgan entered Saturday on a modest four-game hitting streak, and has batted .342 in his last 13 games to boost his average 45 points.

But until he hit his first-inning home run Friday night, he had zero RBIs. He broke a record held nearly 62 years by White Sox outfielder Herb Adams, who had no RBIs in his first 125 plate appearances in 1950.

"It's a new experience in the game of baseball, going this long in baseball without getting a 'steak,'" Morgan said, using baseball parlance for an RBI. "It's basically a new learning curve for me. ... It was just a matter of time. I had to stay with my approach and keep swinging, keep plugging away. Eventually, the stars are going to line up."

Manager Ron Roenicke was glad to see Morgan's RBI drought end.

"Hopefully, he won't have to think about that anymore," Roenicke said. "Guys think about that. It's there. It's easy for me to say, 'Hey, don't worry about it,' but it's there. I'm sure it was on his mind."

Last call

 The left hamstring injury that has bothered backup catcher George Kottaras is improving by the day, he said. Kottaras caught left-hander Randy Wolf as usual on Friday night, but was back on the bench for Shaun Marcum's start on Saturday. Rookie callup Martin Maldonado has been doing the bulk of catching since the regular starter, Jonathan Lucroy, broke his hand earlier in the week.

"It's definitely getting better," Kottaras said. "[Manager Ron Roenicke] told me, when I can, to back off [running]. He knows I hustle hard, I play the game right. I'm not trying to show anybody up by not running. I'm just taking precautions."

 Limited spots remain in the Brewers Charities 5K Famous Racing Sausages Run/Walk on July 28. For information and an online entry form, visit Brewers.com/5KRunWalk.